AIADMK’s support to Land Bill: DMK continues its criticism

Chennai: DMK President M Karunanidhi today continued his criticism of archrival and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa over the latter’s support to NDA’s controversial Land Acquisition Bill as he insisted that the ruling party had adopted ‘double standards’ on the issue.Karunanidhi recalled that AIADMK members in Lok Sabha had strongly opposed the Land Act brought in by the UPA in 2013 and staged a walkout, but had supported the BJP government’s one that had been presented with amendments.

“Opposition in 2013 and support in 2015. Why this double standards,” he said in a statement.

He also wondered if AIADMK’s decision had to do anything with Jayalalithaa’s appeal against her conviction in the Rs 66.66 crore assets case, in which the Karnataka High Court had reserved the judgement.

Karunanidhi said that even as some BJP’s allies had not supported the Bill, AIADMK had “rushed” to support it, and explained in detail their reasons for backing it “as they have understood that the farmers feel AIADMK had betrayed them”.

On Jayalalithaa’s statement that her party-led government will not support any scheme inimical to farmers’ interests, Karunanidhi asked why had it then “come forward to support” the increase in cap in FDI in insurance although it had stated during elections that it was against disinvestment of PSUs.

“Is it against (the interest of) people that Congress, Left and Trinamool Congress opposed” the Land Bill, he asked.